The construction of the victory column,Siegessäule, marked the beginning of many historical monuments being constructed within the Tiergarten. During the late 19th and early 20th century of the German Empire, it was a matter of priority to erect new monuments. The construction of the Siegessäule also marked the last fundamental changes undertaken in the Tiergarten. Park directors focused their attention on preservation and maintenance of the park and its landscape. Playgrounds were added and more avenues were constructed. It wasn’t until the 1890’s when people began to refer to the Tiergarten in Berlin, not near Berlin. With the construction of the Reichstag between 1884 and 1894 next to the Tiergarten, the flood of visitors began to increase.
Photo of Siegessäule © Jasmine Welch
The Tiergarten belonged to the district of Teltow until 1881, where it became a part of Berlin’s municipal area. Having always been controlled by the Prussian ministries and the royal house, the city of Berlin began to financially contribute to the park’s maintenance in 1879. After 1918, the Tiergarten became the property of the Prussian state. After the dissolution of Prussia in 1945, the Tiergarten has belonged to Berlin.
National Socialism had its own effects on the Tiergarten. The Tiergarten was the centerpiece of Berlin until 1945 when it was decimated during the bombings of World War II. After the war, much of the few trees left were cut down for firewood. Under the watchful eyes of park director Willy Alverdes, replantation of trees began in 1949. Alverdes helped redesign a spacious recreational park area with open meadows, leaving much of the baroque main avenues and waterways developed by Lenné intact. The Tiergarten again became the heart and soul of Berlin.
Photo of a meadow within the Tiergarten © Jasmine Welch
Because the Tiergarten is rich in history and artistic importance, the park became a historical landmark in 1991. But even before that, in 1987 during Berlin’s 750-year anniversary, many recommendations were made for park maintenance within the framework of historical landmark preservation activities. After the reunification of Berlin, numerous renovations, restorations, preservations, and conservations have occurred: baroque avenues such as Großfürstenplatz, Zeltenplatz, and Luiseninsel were renovated, Lenné’s Baumsaal was replanted, the Promenade was renovated, Entlastungsstraße was relocated and many monuments restored. Renovations are still being made- von Knobelsdorff’s Floraplatz was rebuilt in 2001 and Lenné’s version of the Venusbassin was redone in 2009. Just recently, the Kemperplatz was completed in 2013.
Photo of the Tiergarten © Jasmine Welch